Vending apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

JAH REPORD A VBNDING APPARATUS. No. 478,714. Patented July 12, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'Sh.eet;l 2'.

J. 1-1. RBPORD. f

VENDING APPARATUS.

No. 478,714. Patented July 12, 1892.

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JOHN HAMILTON REFORD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VENDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,714, dated July 12, 1892.

Application filed September 7, 1891. Serial No. 404,960. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, JOHN HAMILTON RE- FORD, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Philadelphia,in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvementsin Vending Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to vending-machines in which the insertion of a coin causes the delivery of the article purchased, and is particularly applicable to the sale of postageand economical construction and of such a character as will prevent the delivery of the article until the lodgment of the necessary com.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vending apparatus constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on the line l 2 of Fig. 2, and Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of details of construction.

The apparatus, being designed especially for the sale of postage-stamps, is provided with a suitable casingA of weather-proof material, so that it may be placed in exposed positions. Within this casing is a receptacle B, in which are placed the stamps or other articles to be sold, the bottom of the receptaf cle being in the form of a slide C, having a depression c of a depth corresponding tothe thickness of one of the articles, and toward which the contents of the receptacle are pressed by means of a spring D, operating upon a plunger d, which is suitably guided bymeans of a rod d', passing through a guideblock d2, against which the upper end of the spring D acts. The rear and opposite sides of the receptacle are secured to or formed integral with the casing, while the front is in the form of a movable door or panel E, hinged at e, and which may be opened for the inserthe position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2,l

this movement, however, being prevented by a sliding bolt H, which normally engages with a retaining-rib h on the slide. The bolt H is supported on a rod z', projecting from a vertically-movable block I, the rod passing through a portion of the fixed frame and being surrounded by a coiled spring fi', which tends to hold the bolt up in engagement with the retaining-rib h.

Y The block I, as will be seen on reference to Figs. 3 and 5, is provided with two small spring-plates Z, secured to the opposite sides of the block and projecting into the coin-slot J, which runs along the front portion of the casing'froin the top to the coin-receptacle K, so that when a coin is dropped into the top of the slot it will be arrested by the springs Z and its further progress stoppeduntil the purchaser by moving the lever L in` the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, causes one end of the lever to engage with and force the coin past such springs. The springs, however, will not yield sufficiently to permit the passage of the coin between them until the block I has been pushed down and the bolt H withdrawn from engagement with the retainingrib h on the slide. After the block has moved a sufficient distance to permit the disengagement of the bolt the further movement of the lever presses the coin past the springs Z and into the coin-receptacle K.

Y In order to prevent the placing of two coins on thesprings Z at the same time, I place within the slot an arm m, pivoted at m and adapted to be moved outward across the slot by the movement of the lever L, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

A suitable locking device is provided by the employment of sliding bolt n, running in guideways in the casing and adapted to engage with oriiices or keepers o in the door k of the coin-receptacle, said bolts having their upper ends bent at right angles to engage with orifices or keepers p in the main door A vIoo of the casing. When the door is locked by means of the lock I) and` the bolts are in proper position, it is impossible to open the coin-receptacle without first unlocking the door A.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a Vending apparatus, the combination of the supply-receptacle, the delivery-slide, the locking-bolt therefor, the vertically-sliding bolt-carrier, the casing having a coinslot, said bolt-carrier being adapted to engage with the coin, and a pivoted operating-lever for forcing the coin past the bolt-carrier and at the same time movingsaid bolt-carrier and effecting the release of the delivery-slide, substantially as specified.

2. In a vending apparatus, the combination 0f the supply-receptacle, the delivery-slide, the locking-bolt therefor, the vertically-sliding bolt-carrier, the casing having a coin-slot,

spring retaining-arms carried by the bolt-carrier and projecting into the path of the coin, and a pivoted lever L, adapted to be brought into contact with and force the bolt-carrier downward, substantially as specified.

3. In avending apparatus, the combination ot1 the supply-receptacle, the delivery-slide, the locking-bolt therefor, the vertically-slid ing bolt-carrier, the casing having a coin-slot, said bolt-carrier beingadapted to engage with the coin, and a pivoted lever for forcing the coin past the bolt-carrier, said lever being adapted to block the coin-slot and prevent the entrance of an additional coin to the boltoperating mechanism during the operation of the apparatus, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN HAMILTON REFORD.

IVitnesses:

EDWARD HARRIS, EZRA E. VENABLE. 

